Books offered by JF Ptak Science Books

Early Private Notebook of a Considerable Natural History Talent, 1890's, Illustrated

JF Ptak Science Books

This is a notebook of the esteemed Dr. Paul Barsch (1871-1960), longtime (50+ year) associate of the Smithsonian Institution, and former professor at Columbian College (George Washington University) and Howard University Medical School). In his early life he was an immigrant from Silesia to Iowa, and at the time that this notebook was compiled he had just begun his academic career at the University of Iowa (in 1893, and from which he received a B.S. in 1896, an M.S. in 1899, and a PhD. in 1905). 

The notebook is entitled "Zoology" and is neat and meticulous.  It runs 407pp and about 80,000 words, and is illustrated with 77 small cyanotypes, many of which are quite lovely, and some of which are beautiful.

Bartsch made many contribution to this field over six decades, and this accomplished set of notes, coming at age 23/24, is a remarkable testament to what Bartsch would take into the future.

$3500

Manuscript on the Physical Sciences, Franklin Institute, 1850's

JF Ptak Science Books

Manuscript lectures delivered by B. Howard Rand at the Franklin Institute, 1851-1853. 10x8 inches, approximately 245 pages, running approximately 45,000 words. Includes lectures on "Improved Heating and Ventilation" (48 pages), "Geology" (44 pages); "On the Action of Running Water", (15 pages); "Warming", 40 pages); "Ventilation" (48 pages); "Physical Manual", (50 pages). All are bound together, written on different stock, written seemingly by slightly varying hands from time to time, and brought together in a leather-backed paper covered board volume.  The pages are roughly cut, and the handwriting fast and untidy. 

During this time Rand [B(enjamin) Howard Rand, 1 Oct 1827 (Philadelphia) -14 Feb 1883] was a professor of chemistry at the Franklin Institute (1850-1853).  Previously:

• Graudate of Jefferson Medical College (1848)
• Clinical Assistant to Dr. Thomas Mutter and Dr. Joseph Pancost, 1846-1848
• Prof  Chemistry, Franklin Institute, 1850

And subsequently:

• Prof Chemistry, Philadelphia Medical College, 1853-4
• Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, Secretary, 1853-1864
• Prof chemistry, Jefferson Medical College, 1864-1877
• Fellow of the Philadelphia College of Physicians 1853;  fellow of the American Philosophical Society 1868; and, besides membership in other societies, was connected with the American medical association
• Author: An Outline of Medical Chemistry (1855);  Elements of Medical Chemistry (1863)

It is an interesting collection of thinking on different subjects, and a peep into the life of the Franklin Institute and scientific dialog in Philadelphia in the mid-19th century. 

$2500

Child's Manuscript Drawing of Trolley Car, ca. 1890

Manhattan Trolley Car, Original Drawing.  Executed ca. 1890
Graphite on paper
Unknown artist
4 x 9 inches
Very good condition.

Fine old drawing of a Manhattan Street Car Company trolley car done by the hand of (we think) an 11-year-old boy from Maine in the late 1880's or early 1890's.
$350.00

An Early Drawing of a Revolutionary Design--the Modern Propeller, 1855

The U.S.S. San Jacinto--Propeller, Feb 3, 1855.
1855.  New York.  Manuscript drawing on thin tracing paper., by the engineer John Shearman.  Good condition.
20x16"
Drawing in pen and ink, on very thin paper, completed in 1855, by John F. Shearman. Rare. $2500.

This is an extremely early engineering drawing of a modern propeller, executed only a dozen years or so after the creation of the modern screw propeller by John Eriksson. Shearman's creation is devoid of the extra blades that appeared on the edges of the fans of Eriksson's first attempts, and as ultimately adopted as the standard response to this knotty fluid dynamics problem. The propeller pictured here was for the USS San Jacinto, a mail packet that ran along the west coast in the 1850s until it was sunk operating as a blockade runner for the Confederate States in 1864. It was a pretty large propeller--more than 15 feet in diameter--and moved the ship it was attached to more than 22 feet for every revolution of the blade.

The  USS San Jacinto was an early screw frigate in the United States Navy, and was named for the San JAcinto River, of importance during the Texas Revolution. She is perhaps best known for her role in the Trent Affair of 1861...see more here from Wiki. 

Shearman was an engineer who worked at the Brooklyn Iron Works, Roslyn Navy Yard (New York) and a number of other places, practicing his trade from 1845 through 1888. 

The U.S.S. San Jactino:

 

Name:	USS San Jacinto
Builder:	New York Navy Yard
Laid down:	August 1847
Launched:	16 April 1850
Commissioned:	late 1851/early 1852
Fate:	Ran aground, 1 January 1865
General characteristics
Type:	Steam frigate
Tonnage:	1,567 long tons (1,592 t)
Length:	234 ft (71 m)
Beam:	37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Draft:	16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
Depth of hold:	23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)
Propulsion:	Steam engine, screw propeller
Speed:	8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Complement:	278 officers and enlisted
Armament:	• 2 × 8 in (200 mm) guns • 4 × 32-pounder guns